balloon
balloon
(bə-lnʹ) noun
1.
a. A flexible, nonporous bag inflated with a gas, such as helium, that is lighter than the surrounding air, that causes the bag to rise and float in the atmosphere. b. Such a bag with sufficient capacity to lift a suspended gondola or other payload.
2. Any of variously shaped, brightly colored inflatable rubber bags used as toys.
3. Medicine. A sac that is inserted into a body cavity or tube and distended with air or gas for therapeutic purposes, such as angioplasty.
4. A rounded or irregularly shaped outline containing the words that a character in a cartoon is represented to be saying.
verb
ballooned
, ballooning, balloons
verb
, intransitive
1.
To ascend or ride in a balloon.
2.
To expand or swell out like a balloon. See synonyms at bulge.
3.
To increase or rise quickly.
verb
, transitive
To cause to expand by or as if by inflating.
adjective
Suggestive of a balloon, as in shape: balloon curtains.
[French ballon, from Italian dialectal ballone augmentative of balla, ball, of Germanic origin.]
balloon
ʹist noun